Emergency Letter from HLC - Humanitarian Law Center, Belgrade, Serbia
December 4, 1999

Humanitarian Law Center demands information from serbian ministry of interior on arrest of its representative

Attorney Teki Bokshi, a representative of the Kosovo branch of the Humanitarian Law Center, was arrested in Serbia, on the highway between Sremska Mitrovica and Belgrade on 3 December 1999 at 1400 hours. Mr. Bokshi was arrested in the presence of two colleagues, Mr. Mustafa Radoniqi and Mr. Ibish Hoti. All three Kosovo Albanian attorneys were returning to Belgrade after visiting clients detained in the Sremska Mitrovica Detention Center.

The three attorneys were travelling on the highway to Belgrade in the HLC's vehicle when they stopped in response to a sign from an official vehicle, a grey Mercedes with official license plates of the Ministry of Interior. Three police in civilian clothing emerged from the vehicle and immediately took the keys of the HLC vehicle from its driver, Mr. Radoniqi. Police demanded the identity documents of Mr. Hoti and returned them to him. Police demanded and retained the identity documents of Mr. Radoniqi. Police also demanded and retained the attorneys' mobile telephone, which happened to ring at the time of the arrest.

When police demanded his documents, Mr. Bokshi showed the police his attorney's credentials and explained that he had left his identity documents at the Belgrade hotel where he is registered. Police examined Mr. Bokshi's credentials and ordered him to accompany them to the hotel in order to pick up his identity documents. Police ordered the other attorneys to wait in the vehicle, the keys to which remained and remain in possession of the police.

Mr. Radoniqi and Mr. Hoti remained on the highway until 1700 hrs. On learning of the arrest, the HLC's executive director appealed to the Ministry of the Interior in Belgrade for an explanation of the reasons for the arrest of Mr. Bokshi. At this writing, the HLC is awaiting the Ministry's response.